Method and apparatus for sewing the toe of a sock

Abstract

A method of sewing the toe of a sock is provided which can automatically take out a sock pattern of knitted fabric from a sock knitting machine and sew up the selvedge at the toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric thus improving both the efficiency of production and the energy saving. When a sock pattern of knitted fabric has been fabricated by the sock knitting machine, the transfer needles mounted on a group of transfer needles equipped movable tables are advanced at their tips close to the hooks of knitting needles. Then, the sock pattern of knitted fabric is lifted up and turned inside out by suction to transfer its loops at the toe portion from the knitting needles to the corresponding transfer needles. As a result, the sock pattern of knitted fabric turned inside out is transferred from the sock knitting machine to the transfer needles equipped movable tables. The transfer needles equipped movable tables are then shifted to a linear position to sandwich the loops at the toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric flatly between two rows. The transfer needles equipped movable tables are then conveyed to a toe sewing location where the loops at the toe portion of the sock pattern is sewed up automatically with a sewing machine.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method of sewing the toe of a sock comprising the steps of: 
       after knitting a sock pattern with a sock knitting machine, holding the knitting needles at a specific height, downwardly removing loops at the toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric from latches of the corresponding knitting needles, and holding the loops at a specific location;  
       positioning a group of transfer needles equipped movable tables in a circular relationship just above the sock knitting machine;  
       setting the transfer needles on the transfer needles equipped movable tables close to the hooks of the knitting needles;  
       lifting up the sock pattern of knitted fabric to turn inside out and transfer the sock pattern at the loops of the toe portion from the knitting needles to the corresponding transfer needles with the help of a transfer bit elevated so that the sock pattern of knitted fabric turned inside out is transferred from the sock knitting machine to the transfer needles equipped movable tables;  
       positioning the transfer needles equipped movable tables in two linear rows aligned opposite to each other to sandwich the toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric flatly from both sides;  
       shifting the transfer needles equipped movable tables to a toe sewing location; and  
       automatically sewing up the toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric with a sewing machine provided at the toe sewing location.  
     
     
       2. The method of sewing the toe of a sock according to  claim 1 , further comprising, when the sock pattern of knitted fabric is held by the transfer needles at the toe sewing location, lifting up the sock pattern of knitted fabric with a lifting member to enlarge its loops at the toe portion, inserting a plurality of point needles, each having a recess provided on the upper side thereof, into the corresponding loops which are enlarged, removing the lifting bit from the transfer needles, and sewing up the loops at the toe portion with a sewing needles which performs an intermittent reciprocal action in and along the recess of each point needles. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for sewing the toe of a sock comprising: 
       a group of transfer needles equipped movable tables arranged movable for shifting between a circular position and a linear position where two linear rows come opposite to each other, moving up and down just above a sock knitting machine, and traveling forward and backward horizontally of the sock knitting machine;  
       a plurality of transfer needles mounted on the transfer needles equipped movable tables for radial movement when the transfer needles equipped movable tables are arranged in the circular position;  
       a guide ring for moving up and down in the center of a circle of the transfer needles equipped movable tables arranged in the circular position and when the transfer needles are advanced inwardly, holding the tips of the transfer needles in a circle so that the transfer needles come close to hooks of a corresponding knitting needles of the sock knitting machine;  
       a vacuum pipe for moving up and down in the guide ring and when held at a lower position, drawing by suction from above a sock pattern of knitted fabric fabricated by the sock knitting machine so that the sock pattern is turned inside out and lifted up; and  
       a sewing machine installed at a location on a horizontal traveling path of the transfer needles equipped movable tables for sewing up the toe portion of the sock pattern.  
     
     
       4. The apparatus for sewing the toe of a sock according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
       a lifting member for lifting up the sock pattern of knitted fabric held on the transfer needles at the location for sewing up the toe portion of the sock pattern;  
       a plurality of point needles, each point needle having a recess provided in the upper side thereof, for moving to and from the corresponding loops of the sock pattern of knitted fabric held on the transfer needles; and  
       a sewing needle for performing an intermittent reciprocal action in and along the recess of each point needles which holds one of the loops so that the loops at the toe portion of the sock pattern of knitted fabric can be sewed up.